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Dear members, friends and supporters,
We dealt in many different ways in the past month of April with the idea of “Freedom”. On April 17 our congregation members joined Jews from all over Germany and over 450 survivors as we commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Liberation of the concentration camp in Bergen-Belsen.
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Congregational members and Dr. Henry Friedlander take part in the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen.
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It was important that we participated in these ceremonies and helped bear witness to the horrors of that place.
For me personally, it was a journey to honor my cousin who was one of the few who survived the hell of that place. After her liberation, she was placed in a DP camp, where she met her future huisband. Before the pair emigrated to the USA, they married in the Celle Synagogue—the first Jewish wedding to take place after the war there.
I stood for her there, and we all stood for all of those who have no one to stand for them. My cousin lives in New York now and she is so proud of the work we are doing, re-establishing Judaism in Germany.
At our Passover Seder we read that, “It was with a mighty hand that the Lord brought us out of Egypt, the house of bondage” (Ex. 13, 14). Passover reminds us that we feel as if we ourselves had been delivered from Egypt. Each one of us must find his “freedom” from his own form of “slavery”. Each one of us must make his way through the desert. How good it is to know that we will find our way and we will secure our future and that of our children and grandchildren together.
Holidays in May
May offers us many reasons to celebrate together as Jews—some days in sorrow and some in joy.
- On Jom ha Shoah (May 6) we honor those who suffered and perished at the murderous hands of the Nazis. We will include a memorial service at our Friday night services. In addition, we will celebrate the end of World War II with a special memorial day on May 9.
- On Jom ha-Sikaron, (May 11) we honor all those who died in service to the Land of Israel.
- On Jom ha-Atzmaut, (May 12) Israeli independence day, Rabbi Shillor will offer a lecture. On the following day, at Friday night services, her sermon will discuss the meaning of this day further.
- On May 27, it is Lag ba-Omer and we will celebrate together with student rabbi Alina Treiger.
We'll meet in the garden of the Lutheran Reformed Church for a picnic. Alina will lead a short service and we'll learn many new songs. Please bring a salad to share. Everything else will be provided by the congregation. Helpers needed!
Rabbi Shillor
We'll always happy to see our rabbi and wish we could have her with us more than two days a month! It will be a special treat to celebrate Jom Ha-Atzmaut with her. We'll enjoy Israeli food for Kiddush. Who has a great recipe?
Student Rabbi Alina Treiger
We're all looking forward to our Lag ba-Omer picnic with Alina. In the event of bad weather, we'll meet in the synagogue at 5 as usual. Schacharit begins at 10 the next morning.
Seminar
Many of our members take part in seminars. In the past,members have attended seminars and workshops revolving around such important themes as "The Jewish Home", "Anti- Semitism", "Chevra Kaddisha", "Synagogue Security Issues" and "Israeli Dance". The members become multipicators and share what they've learned. In March our treasurer attended a seminar on
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Sozialarbeiterin Faina Pelts bei der Arbeit
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bookkeeping and in April our social worker attended a seminar on Social work. As a result, Ms. Pelts informed over 60 interested members at a two-hour meeting on April 20.
UPJ Summer Camp
This year's summer camp will be held in Straelen, near the Dutch border. Camp runs from July 28 to August 7. Camp is open to youngsters between the ages of 8 and 17. The cost is 350 Euros. Registration forms are available in the office. Youngsters from Netzer Olami Holland will join our group.
UPJ 11th Annual Conference
This year's annual conference of the Union of Progressive Jews of Germany will be held in Berlin July 17–17. The conference is a wonderful opportunity to meet with other members and leaders from sister congregations in Germany for four days of Jewish learning. Not only can one exchange ideas and experiences but also take part in beautiful Sabbath services. Registration forms will be available in the office.
Contributions
May the following be blessed for their generous contributions to the general fund of the congregation:
Mrs. Niedert, Mrs. Spurlock and the Khan Family. For the synagogue fund, The Dohme Family.
Tree of Life
We ask you to help us build our synagogue by buying an “leaf” on our Tree of Life. Each leaf costs a minimum of $54 and can be ordered online. Just click “Tree of Life”. Our tree now has 134 leaves but there's room for many more! New leaves are from: S. Grogolinska, the Dohme Family, D. Vogelhuber and Mr.& Mrs. Fischer.
A new leaf has been ordered and will be inscribed: “Helene Dohme—loved and respected”.
Todah Rabah — Thank You
We thank the Moses Mendelsohn Center for selecting our architect, Arnold Oppler's rendering of our new synagogue for the cover of their annual yearbook, “Menorah”. The inside cover includes an appeal for contributions. We thank Dr. J. Schoeps, Dr. W. Jaspers and Mr. O. Gloeckner for supporting us in this way. A copy of “Menorah” is available in our library. Thank you to everyone who helped make our community Seder so beautiful!
Mazel Tov — Congratulations
Mazel Tov to our “Young and Jewish Jr. Hameln” youth leader, Inna Golbereg for taking part in a two-week counselor training session in Israel with UPJ Youth Coordinator Adi Weichselbaum and 15 other young leaders from Reform congregations all over Germany. Inna will inform and involve our youth in regional activities like the Youth Seder and the upcoming excursion to Hannover for Lag ba-Omer.
May Birthdays
Happy and healthy birthday to all those born in May. A birthday Kiddush will be held on May 13.
Refuah Schlama — Get well wishes
We wish all who are ill at home or in the hospital a speedy and complete recovery. Give us a call in the office if you'd enjoy a visit from a member of the congregation's Bikur Cholim group.
Condolences
Condolences to the Dohme family on the death of mother, mother-in-law and grandmother, Helene Dohme. May her soul be bound up in the covenant of Life.
Yahrzeit — May their memory be for a blessing.
Evgenia Benderskaja — May 25, 2001/ 2 Sivan 5761
Vladimir Rubanov — May 14, 2002/ 3 Sivan 5762
Urn for
Evgenia Borischanskaja — May 5, 2004/ 21 Sivan 5764
Shalom,
— Your Synagogue Board
Program for May 2005; Nissan–Iyar 5765
May 2 3 p.m. Religious school for children
May 3 4 p.m. Video Afternoon
May 5 3 p.m. Hebrew for adults, “Young and Jewish Hameln Jr.”
4 p.m. B'nei Mitzvah class
May 6 5 p.m. Friday night services/Yom Ha-Schoah
May 9 5 p.m. Memorial service—60th anniversary of the end of WWII
Rabbi Shillor's visit:
May 12 11 a.m. “Rabbi's Table”
1–4 p.m. Rabbi's office hours
4 p.m. B'nei Mitzvah class
May 13 9-12 a.m. Rabbi's office hours
2 p.m. Giyur class
5 p.m. Friday night services
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May 17 9 p.m. 7th grade class from Bad Munder visits our Synagogue
5 p.m. Lecture: J. Kudlatsch
May 19 11 a.m. Lecture: “Israel”
3 p.m. Hebrew for adults, “Young and Jewish Jr. Hameln”
4 p.m. B'nei Mitzvah class
May 20 2 p.m. Judaism class in Russian
May 23 3 p.m. Religious school for children
May 27 5 p.m. Friday night services/Lag ba-Omer picnic
May 28 10 a.m. Schacharit services
1:30 p.m. B'nei Mitzvah class
May 31 5 p.m. “Russian Afternoon”
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Archived Newsletters:
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